It's unlikely another city of 21,000 has the caliber movie curator Portsmouth does. But we do, says Chris Curtis, film coordinator at The Music Hall.

Bill and Stella Pence curate both the Hall's film series and Telluride by the Sea (TbtS), "the granddaddy of all our on-screen programming," says Curtis. For the uninitiated, the Pences select films from the latest Telluride Film Festival, the festival they co-founded in 1973. They remain directors emeritus of the Colorado event.

That is called chops.

It's for that reason Curtis purposefully limits his personal knowledge of the films being presented.

"Honestly, I try to keep myself in the dark as much as possible. It's part of the excitement for me, the process of discovery, which is so vital to what the festival is about."

It's about trust, he adds.

"These films have been curated for me by people in the industry that deeply care about filmmaking. — I contrast movies versus film, not to besmirch, but because the term film to me means more about the experience of the finer art, the craft of filmmaking."

That is the legacy of the parent festival; film selected from around the world; it's not about Hollywood, but independent and international fine films, Curtis says.

"Bill and Stella have the same standard and love of the art. ...; They're the ones looking at the titles and choosing them. So part of the process for a film festival-goer is trusting the curators," says Curtis. "Knowing what the titles are, or anything about the films themselves, is in my experience something secondary.

"Trust is as big a part of this process as discovery."

It's about entering the theater, the lights being lowered, the crowd growing still and the film rolling, "and you know next to nothing about it."

Remaining unaware is in keeping with the spirit of Telluride Film Fesitval, the only major film festival that releases titles at the last possible moment.

"It doesn't announce programs till the vast majority of people have bought passes or are in flight from around the world to get there. No one knows what they're going to go see till they arrive. It's one of the things that are special about Telluride. And everything we do here for Telluride by the Sea is based on the spirit of the Telluride Film Festival. We try to emulate it in miniature."

For The Music Hall's part, it releases a bare-bones blurb of each film. But there is an area Telluride by the Sea surpasses even TFF's reveal practices, by withholding the titles of its Past Gems programming, held at the Loft.

Past Gems was launched last year, it too a Pence suggestion. "Past Gems" pays homage to past filmmaking, with screenings of restored, recently rediscovered, or well-loved classics, again another TFF tradition.

"We were looking for a way to incorporate the Loft," says Curtis. "It was a natural extension for us."

Last year's Gems paid tribute to the work of filmmaker Werner Herzog. This year it focuses on film noir, a style long campaigned by TFF.

The more Curtis learned about the genre during the festival planning stage the more he came to anticipate the program.

Noir's influence on film in general and mystery thrillers specifically is impressive. It's all the more impressive considering how low budget and gritty these films, he says.

The program offers jewels of its own. For example, titles are not released. Period. A host divulges them at the screening.

"We have a guest host Kent Stephens, doing his fedora-wearing, gritty self. He knows a lot about this style of film-making and the literature that inspired the stories," says Curtis. "He's going to have a lot of fun things to share, not only about the style of film-making but about the titles ...; like about the writer that was smoking cigarettes and writing in a bathtub in Mexico. —That's me poorly quoting Kent."

"Past Gems" are available only to those with weekend passes; no single tickets, which are available for all main films in The Music Hall.

A traditional weekend pass is good for all movies in both buildings. It comes with a ticket for the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company, good through Oct. 31, and the wrap party at the Portsmouth Brewery. Pass holders are also admitted before single ticket buyers.

The Top Patron Pass offers more perks, including an opening night post-show party at Radici "with all the opening night excitement, talking about films to come ...; that people in New York and L.A. haven't seen yet," says Curtis. "There's a great energy at the opening night party."

It also includes first admission to "Past Gem" films, and a Sunday brunch at The District "with incredible food and mimosas."

Perhaps most appealing to some is the first-in policy. Patron Pass holders are the only ones admitted pre show and allowed to save their seat. Once reserved, they can head to the lobby, enjoy a treat, and mosey up at their own pace, says Curtis.

In addition all those attending will be the first to see a newly renovated space.

"We're unveiling the newly renovated upper lobby Friday night, when Patron Pass holders will be the first ones to enjoy it. Just another bit of excitement for this year."

And there's still more, says Curtis. This is the first time in 14 years that Telluride by the Sea will have all Telluride Film Festival Tributees represented by a film in the festival.

Who those people are, what role they played or the name of the film they're connected with is best left unsaid here, just in case a purist reads the article; Friday at 5:30 is soon enough for them. For the others a list of films is tucked away on Page 24.

"I hope most people are doing the purist experience," says Curtis. "It's about trust."